Handling Asymmetry in Power Heterogeneous Ad Hoc Networks: A Cross Layer Approach

Power heterogeneous ad hoc networks are characterized by link layer asymmetry: the ability of lower power nodes to receive transmissions from higher power nodes but not vice versa. This not only poses challenges at the routing layer, but also results in an increased number of collisions at the MAC layer due to high power nodes initiating transmissions while low power communications are in progress. Previously proposed routing protocols for handling unidirectional links largely ignore MAC layer dependencies. In this paper, we propose a cross layer framework that effectively improves the performance of the MAC layer in power heterogeneous ad hoc networks. In addition, our approach seamlessly supports the identification and usage of unidirectional links at the routing layer. The framework is based on intelligently propagating low power MAC layer control messages to higher power nodes so as to preclude them from initiating transmissions while the low power communications are in progress ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: ICDCS
• Authors: Vasudev Shah, Srikanth V. Krishnamurthy
• Keywords: Distributed And Parallel Computing, ICDCS 2005, Mac Layer, Power Heterogeneous Ad, Power Nodes